Brandon’s Jeff Hammond stepped up to the plate and gave the Blackhawks? varsity hockey team a big-time performance Saturday, Jan. 7.
Hammond, a junior goaltender for the Blackhawks, stopped all 35 Lapeer East shots in a 2-0 victory against the Eagles in Flint Metro League action. He now has a 2.49 goals-against average and an .897 save percentage in six games played this season.
The win improved the Blackhawks? record to 7-3 overall and 5-0 in league play, while the Eagles fell to 7-4-1 overall and 4-2 in the league.
The Blackhawks won the game despite being outshot 35-20. After the teams battled to a scoreless tie in the first period, Brandon’s Sean Doyle scored the first goal of the game with 12:28 left in the second period on an assist from Steve Cybulski.
Craig Skidmore added an insurance goal for the Blackhawks with 14:07 left in the third period on assists from Kyle Doan and Tony Kraydich.
The Blackhawks spotted visiting Oxford a 2-1 lead and came back for a 3-2 win in a Jan. 4 Flint Metro League game at the Polar Palace in Lapeer.
Oxford’s Alex Hoffman opened the scoring with 11:37 left in the first period, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Brandon answered 31 seconds into the second period, as Matt Cinader scored an unassisted goal.
Mike Jacovetti put the Wildcats back in the lead with 11:55 in the second period, but Nick Foren scored with 2:59 left in the second on an assist from Kraydich, tying the contest at two.
Foren scored the winning goal for the Blackhawks with 6:07 left in the third period, assisted by Craig Skidmore.
Glen Kendrick picked up the win in goal for the Blackhawks, stopping 22-of-24 shots (91.7 percent).